Ahmedabad – The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were forced to cancel their only practice session before their crucial Indian Premier League (IPL) Eliminator match against the Rajasthan Royals due to security concerns involving star player Virat Kohli, according to a recent report.
The decision was made after Gujarat Police arrested four individuals in Ahmedabad suspected of terrorist activities, raising alarms about potential threats to high-profile figures, including Kohli. This development prompted RCB to also call off their pre-match press conference.
RCB was scheduled to practice at the Gujarat College Ground ahead of their match at the Narendra Modi Stadium. However, after being informed by the police about the arrests, the Bengaluru-based franchise decided to cancel all their scheduled activities for the day. Conversely, the Rajasthan Royals proceeded with their practice commitments despite being informed of the situation.
“Virat Kohli learned about the arrests after arriving in Ahmedabad. He is a national treasure, and his security is our utmost priority,” said Vijay Singha Jwala, a police officer, as quoted by Anandabazaar Patrika.
RCB, prioritizing Kohli’s safety, opted not to take any risks. In response, security was significantly increased around their team hotel, with even IPL-accredited personnel being restricted from entering the premises.
The Rajasthan Royals, meanwhile, continued with their preparations, albeit under tightened security measures. A ‘green corridor’ was established, and three police convoys escorted the team bus to ensure safe travel. Notably, skipper Sanju Samson arrived late, and players like Ravichandran Ashwin, Riyan Parag, and Yuzvendra Chahal chose to stay back at the hotel, skipping the practice session.
The incident underscored the intense security arrangements that had to be put in place as players conducted their drills under heavy surveillance.
RCB’s Playoff Journey
RCB managed to secure a spot in the playoffs following a spectacular turnaround in their season, winning six consecutive matches. Their place in the Eliminator was sealed after they triumphed over Chennai Super Kings in a decisive final league match, setting up a face-off against the Rajasthan Royals.
The winner of the Eliminator will go on to compete against SunRisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2 in Chennai. The victor of that match will then play against Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL final.
With heightened security concerns and a critical match ahead, RCB’s focus remains on navigating both the off-field and on-field challenges to continue their playoff journey.
Squads:
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Rovman Powell, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, Avesh Khan, Nandre Burger, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Sen, Shubham Dubey, Keshav Maharaj, Donovan Ferreira, Navdeep Saini, Shimron Hetmyer, Tanush Kotian, Abid Mushtaq, Kunal Singh Rathore
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis(c), Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik(w), Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Yash Dayal, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Siraj, Swapnil Singh, Anuj Rawat, Suyash Prabhudessai, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Himanshu Sharma, Mayank Dagar, Alzarri Joseph, Manoj Bhandage, Akash Deep, Saurav Chauhan, Rajan Kumar, Tom Curran
